Wire puller and conduit adapter

ABSTRACT

An improved wire puller uses a first and second position-able arms and may include an adapter and adapter bracket to allow for easier pulling of wire through conduit. The wire puller allows for easier set up and use and provides increased pulling force over existing wire pullers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 60/777,620, filed Feb. 28, 2006, which is expresslyincorporated herein, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.60/777,347, filed Feb. 28, 2006, which is expressly incorporated herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to installing wires in conduit. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a machine for pullingwires and the like through conduit.

2. State of the Art

Many structures utilize electrical wire and various types of cables toprovide electricity, communications, and the like. These wires andcables are frequently installed in conduits, such as plastic or metaltubes. Conduits are often installed into the walls, ceiling, and floorsof a building while the building is being constructed, and wires andcables are then installed into the conduits after the framework of thebuilding is sufficiently complete.

Typically, a light and flexible line or cord or fish tape is threadedthrough the conduit so as to extend out of both ends of the conduit. Thelight line or fish tape is then used to pull a heavier line through theconduit. A line which is strong enough to pull the desired wire or cablethrough the conduit is used. The wire is then attached to an end of thepulling line and the line is used to pull the wire through the conduit.

It will be appreciated that while it may be relatively easy to pull awire through a short straight section of conduit, it becomesincreasingly difficult to pull a wire through a conduit as the conduitbecomes longer or contains more bends. Additionally, thicker wires andcables are more difficult to pull through conduit than thinner ones.Thus, a point is reached where a person is simply not strong enough topull the desired wire or cable through the conduit.

Mechanical wire pullers have been utilized to pull the desired wiresthrough a conduit. Existing wire pullers, however, suffer from manylimitations. Many wire pullers use a motor to pull the pulling line andwire through the conduit, but require the operator to stabilize the wirepuller itself. If high force is required to pull the wire through theconduit, the operator may not be able to stabilize the wire puller.Existing wire pullers may not supply sufficient force to pull a largewire through a conduit, or to pull a wire through a long section ofconduit. Existing wire pullers are typically limited as to their abilityto easily pull wires from various locations such as from a ceiling orwall as the wire puller may be too small and lack sufficientadjustability to reach a desired location. Existing wire pullers arealso inconvenient to transport, set up, and adjust during use.

There is thus a need for a wire puller which overcomes the above andother limitations of available wire pullers. Such a wire puller shouldbe capable of pulling large wires and cables where a high pulling forceis required. Such a wire puller should be easy to transport and easy toset up and use. Such a wire puller should also be adjustable so as toallow a user to pull wires from many locations, such as from a floor,wall, or ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wirepuller and conduit adapter. According to one aspect of the presentinvention, a wire puller is provided which is easy to transport. Thewire puller may be mounted to a cart or have wheels attached thereto toas to allow a person to roll the wire puller into place. The wire pullermay also be designed so as to be collapsible for ease of transportation.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a wire puller isprovided which is adjustable so as to allow a user to pull wires from avariety of locations. The wire puller may be constructed with a firstarm extending from the base and a second arm extending from the firstarm. The arms are typically pivotably mounted to the base and to eachother so as to allow the arms to be properly positioned for a variety ofwire pulls. According to another aspect of the invention, the first andsecond arms may be constructed so as to be telescoping, or so as to bendin the middle of the arm, allowing greater flexibility during use andeasier storage and transportation.

According to another aspect of the invention, a wire puller may beprovided which attaches to the conduit. Attachment to the conduit bracesthe wire puller to allow for higher pulling forces. An adapter may beprovided which allows the wire puller to be attached to a conduit havinga pulling line, wire, or cable extending therefrom without threading theline or wire through the adapter. An adapter may be provided whichthreads onto the end of a conduit or is placed inside of a conduit so asto maintain the adapter and wire puller in rigid connection with theconduit.

These and other aspects of the present invention are realized in a wirepuller as shown and described in the following figures and relateddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present invention are shown and described inreference to the numbered drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wire puller according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the wire puller shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the wire puller shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the wire puller shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the conduit adapter shown in FIGS.1-4;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the conduit adapter attached to the wirepuller;

FIG. 7 shows another perspective view of the conduit adapter of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the body of the conduit adapter ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows another perspective view of the body of the conduit adapterof FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the tube of the conduit adapter ofFIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 shows another perspective view of the tube of the conduitadapter of FIG. 7.

It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and notlimiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appendedclaims. The various elements of the invention accomplish various aspectsand objects of the invention. It is appreciated that not every elementof the invention can be clearly displayed in a single drawing, and assuch not every drawing shows each element of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings will now be discussed in reference to the numerals providedtherein so as to enable one skilled in the art to practice the presentinvention. The drawings and descriptions are exemplary of variousaspects of the invention and are not intended to narrow the scope of theappended claims.

Turning to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a wire puller, indicatedgenerally at 10, is shown. The wire puller 10 includes a base 14 havingwheels 18. The base 14 may include a storage container (not shown) forstoring tools or accessories used in combination with the wire puller10, if such is desired. A first arm 26 is attached to the base 14. Thefirst arm 26 provides a mounting location for a motor 30, transmission34 and capstan 38, and pulley 42. The motor 30 may be a simple motor, ormay include a gearbox portion, such as where a drill motor is used. Themotor 30 may even be removably mounted to the first arm 26. The capstan38 may include a knurled portion 38 a to allow an operator to moreeasily pull wires which require a large pulling force. The capstan 38 isplaced in a vertical orientation instead of the horizontal output shaftcommonly used by prior art wire pullers. Orienting the capstan 38vertically can allow an operator to stand to the side of the wire puller10 while operating the wire puller 10. Such an arrangement can bepreferable to a horizontal output shaft as used in prior art wirepullers, which may require the operator to stand behind the wire pullerwhere the operator is in line with the pulling rope. In such a position,it is likely that the pulling rope would strike the operator if the ropewere to break.

The first arm 26 is typically pivotably attached to the base 14 andselectively locked into place at a variety of angles relative to theground. Accordingly, the base 14 may include plates 16 which provide apivot 20 for the first arm 26 and a pin 22 or other means to lock thefirst arm 26 at a desired angle. As shown, the plates 16 include aplurality of holes 24 which are concentric to the pivot 20 and which maybe used to lock the position of the first arm 26 by passing a pin 22through a hole 24 and a corresponding hole in the first arm 26. A pin 28or other structure may be provided to limit the range of motion of thefirst arm 26. Although not easily visible in this view, a spring may beprovided to support some of the weight of the puller arms and motor 30,making the wire puller 10 easier to operate. The spring may be a torsionspring placed about the pivot 20 and connected to the base 14 and thefirst arm 26.

The first arm 26 may have a notch 46 formed therein, allowing a rope(not shown) to extend around the bottom of pulley 42 (as would be thecase for the overhead pull configuration shown), pass through the notch46, and wrap around the capstan 38. Depending on the use of the wirepuller 10, it may or may not be necessary for the pulling rope to crossthe first arm 26. It will be appreciated that it is desirable for therope to pass around the pulley and to the capstan 38 relativelyunobstructed so as not to bind on the arms of the wire puller 10. Thefirst arm 26 may also include a folding joint or pivot 50 near themiddle thereof so as to allow the first arm 26 to be folded in halfduring storage or transportation to reduce the size of the wire puller10.

The first arm 26 is constructed with plates 54 attached to the end ofthe first arm 26. The plates 54 typically have a pivot shaft 58 passingthrough the plates 54, which is used to mount the pulley 42, and whichis also used to mount the second arm 62. The plates 54 are formed withseries of holes 66 which are concentric with the pivot shaft 58 and usedto lock the second arm 62 into a desired position by passing a pin 70through the holes 66 and a corresponding hole in the second arm 62. Assuch, the second arm 62 may be locked at a desired angle relative to thefirst arm 26, similar to how the first arm 26 is locked at a desiredangle relative to the base 14.

The second arm 62 may be formed out of telescoping sections. As such afirst section 62 a slidingly receives a second section 62 b. As shown,the second arm 62 has two parallel sections each comprising a firstsection 62 a and a second section 62 b. Such a design works well withthe joint configuration shown comprising a pulley 42 and plates 54. Aseries of holes 74 a are formed in first section 62 a, and acorresponding series of holes 74 b are formed in second section 62 b.The series of holes 74 a, 74 b may be formed at a desired interval, suchas 6 inches, which allows the second arm 62 to be extended in 6 inchintervals. The second arm 62 may be locked at a desired length bypassing a locking pin 78 through a first hole 74 a and second hole 74 b.It is appreciated that for the configuration shown, two pins 78 willpass through holes in both of the parallel sides of the second arm 62.Additionally, it is advantageous for the pin 78 to pass completelythrough the tubing used to make the first section 62 a and secondsection 62 b.

The free end (indicated at 82) of the second arm 62 has a pivot shaft 86passing therethrough to which a pulley 90 is mounted. The pivot shaft 86also serves to rotatably mount an adapter bracket 94. The adapterbracket 94 has a surface to which an adapter 98 may be mounted. Theadapter 98 is typically bolted to the adapter bracket 94, but othermeans such as keyed slots may be suitable. The adapter bracket 94typically has a pair of plates 102 which have a series of holes 106concentric to the pivot shaft 86. A pin 100 is passed through a hole 106and a corresponding hole on the second arm 62 to lock the adapterbracket 94 in a desired orientation.

The adapter 98 is typically configured to engage a conduit to therebybrace the wire puller 10 against the conduit and thus aid in pullingwire from the conduit. A foot control 114, or other control may be usedwith the wire puller 10. While the first pulley 42 is a relatively largediameter, such as about 6-10 inches in diameter, the second pulley 90 isa smaller diameter, such as about 2-4 inches in diameter. The smallerpulley 90 allows the wire puller 10 to have a more compact free end,allowing the wire puller 10 to be more easily used in pulling wire fromconfined spaces such as electrical boxes.

Turning now to FIG. 2, another perspective view of the wire puller 10 ofFIG. 1 is shown. In FIG. 2, the wire puller 10 is illustrated as beingpositioned for pulling a wire from the floor. It will be appreciatedthat, by selectively positioning the base 14, first arm 26, second arm62, adapter bracket 94 and adapter 98 so as to direct the adapter 98towards the conduit, and by then locking these assemblies into positionwith the locking pins 22, 70, 100 and with plates 16, 54, 102 and holes24, 66, 106. Thus, the wire puller 10 is easily positioned for most ifnot all wire pulling jobs. Spring 32, such as a torsion spring, is usedto support some or all of the weight of the first arm 26 and second arm62 as has been discussed. While the wire puller arms 26, 62 may weighupwards of about 200 pounds, the spring 32 may be used to support muchof that weight such that an operator must lift only 50 pounds or lesswhen positioning the wire puller arms 26,62.

FIG. 2 also better shows the pulleys 42, 90. The pulleys 42, 90 guidethe rope and wire from the conduit to the capstan 38. The distancebetween the adapter 98 and the capstan 38 is considerably longer thanexisting wire pullers (about 10 feet as compared to a few feet or less),allowing a longer length of wire to be pulled out from the conduitwithout requiring the stopping of the wire puller 10 to reattach therope to the wire. This allows sufficient wire to be pulled from theconduit for connection to the desired light, outlet, switch, etc. Theadapter 98, by engaging the conduit, allows for easier and more stablesetup of the wire puller 10 and easier pulling of wires.

Many existing wire pullers have a single arm with a motor attached tothe arm. The wire puller 10 of the present invention has two armspivotably mounted to each other, and pivotably mounted to a base. Thefirst arm 26 and second arm 62 allow the wire puller 10 to be used formost situations. The arms 26, 62 may be positioned to pull wires from aceiling, wall, floor, etc. Additionally, the two arms 26, 62 providesufficient reach for the adapter 98 to reach and engage a conduit in aceiling, not possible with existing wire pullers. Thus, existing wirepullers typically must be bolted to the floor or held in place by theoperator, both of which may limit the force which may be exerted on thewire and the control an operator has over the wire and wire puller, aswell as the ease of using the wire puller. The use of a wheeled base 14allows the wire puller 10 to be easily moved between pulls or betweenjobsites. The use of an adapter 98 which attaches to a conduit securesthe wire puller 10 for a pull without requiring the user to attach thebase 14 to the ground or exert a high amount of force to stabilize thewire puller 10.

It is appreciated that in use, a rope or pulling line is pulled througha conduit where a wire is to be installed. A fish tape or the like maybe used to aid in placing the rope in the conduit. The rope has a largeenough diameter for the pulling forces involved, and is often of a largelength, such as between 250 and 1000 feet long so as to accommodateinstallation of varying lengths of wires. The rope is placed in theconduit such that the extra coil of rope is near the wire puller 10 andthe free end of the rope extends from the opposite end of the conduit,ready for attachment to the wire which is to be pulled through theconduit. The wire puller 10 and conduit adapter 98 are designed so as toallow the rope to be placed through the conduit before any interactionwith the wire puller 10 or adapter 98.

The wire puller 10 and the adapter 98 are designed such that the rope(or wire) does not need to be threaded through any confined opening onthe wire puller 10 or adapter 98. The rope may be placed around the wirepuller pulleys 42, 90 and capstan 38 and through the adapter 98 withoutthreading the rope through any of these parts. Thus, the rope may befirst threaded through the conduit, resulting in a loose end of the ropefor connection to the wire extending from the end of the conduit awayfrom the wire puller 10 and the rope extending from the conduit back tothe spool of rope near the wire puller 10. This section of rope betweenthe conduit and the spool of rope may be easily placed into the adapter98 and around the pulleys 42, 90 and capstan 38 to prepare for a wirepull. After the wire pull, the wire and rope may similarly be easilyremoved from the adapter 98 and wire puller 10 without threading it outof the same. Thus, the design of the wire puller 10 and adapter 98 allowfor easy loading and unloading of the rope and wire during use.

The adapter 98 is formed with a slot through a side thereof so that anypoint along the rope may be placed into the bore of the adapter 98. Therope is then passed around the second pulley 90, around the first pulley42, and is wrapped around the capstan 38 several times. The operatorpulls on the end of the rope extending past the capstan 38 to tightenthe winds of rope around the shaft 38 and thereby cause the rope to gripthe capstan 38, causing the capstan 38 to pull on the rope and pull thedesired wire through the conduit.

Prior art wire pullers require that the rope is threaded through thewire puller or conduit adapter before threading the rope through theconduit. This is cumbersome and makes it more difficult to thread therope through the conduit. Additionally, the wire puller can not be takenor used elsewhere until the wire pull is completed, and other wire pullscan not be set up in advance without the wire puller, as the wire pullermust be present to install the pulling rope prior to the wire pull.

Turning now to FIG. 3, another perspective view of the wire puller 10 ofFIG. 1 is shown. The wire puller 10 is positioned to pull wire from afloor conduit. A pulling rope 122 is shown, and it can be seen how therope extends through the adapter 98 and the adapter bracket 94 aroundpulleys 90, 42 and wraps around capstan 38. The operator may then applymoderate force to the rope 122 to cause the rope to grip the capstan 38and allow the wire puller 10 to pull the rope 122 and wire through aconduit.

It will be appreciated that if the rope were to break, such as in theconduit or near the conduit opening, the broken end of the rope 122which is wrapped around the pulleys 42, 90 would recoil towards thecapstan 38. The rope used 122 is often a polyester rope or the like, andwill stretch slightly and store tremendous amounts of energy in therope. If an operator was standing behind the wire puller 10 when therope 122 broke, the rope could impact the operator with tremendous forceand cause serious injury. The placement of the capstan 38 in a verticalposition (extending generally perpendicularly from the top of the firstarm 26) allows the operator to stand to the side of the wire pullerwhere they are less likely to be hit by a broken wire pulling rope.

Turning now to FIG. 4, another perspective view of the wire puller 10 ofFIG. 1 is shown. The wire puller 10 is folded for transportation orstorage. It can be observed how the telescoping second arm 62 can beshortened, and how a folding joint or pivot 50 in the first arm 26allows for convenient transportation and storage of the wire puller 10.The pivot 50 may use a pin, bolt, or other suitable device to lock thearm 26 into an extended or folded position as is desired. The wirepuller may be provided with handles 126 to allow for easiertransportation of the wire puller.

FIG. 4 also shows more clearly the locking pins 22, 28, 70, 100, plates16, 54, 102, and holes 24, 66, 106, which allow for positioning of thefirst arm 26 and second arm 62. The pivot 86 for plates 102 and pulley90 may be a removable pin, allowing the plates and adapter 98 to beeasily removed and reversed for an overhead versus underground wirepull. Easily reversible plates 102 and adapter 98 allows the plates 102to accommodate approximately 90 degrees rotation (via indexing holes106) of the adapter (about pivot 86) and still allow a full range ofoverhead and underground pull setups. Where the plates 102 and adapter98 can not be easily reversed, the plates 102 must accommodateapproximately 180 degrees of rotation to allow for a full range ofoverhead and underground wire pulls. The use of smaller plates 102, incombination with a smaller diameter pulley 90, allow for easier use inconfined areas such as electrical boxes.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of the adapter 98 of FIG. 1 isshown. The adapter 98 includes a body 130 and a tube 134 attached to thebody 130. The tube 134 is placed in a conduit to brace and secure thewire puller 10 when in use. The tension placed on the rope/wire when thewire puller 10 is in use will hold the adapter 98 in the conduit, so itmay not always be necessary to secure the adapter 98 to the conduit witha bolt or the like. A collar 138 may also be attached to the body 130concentric to the tube 134. The tube 134 is open to the body 130 so thata rope or wire may pass through the bore of the tube 134. A slot 142 isformed in the tube 134 and body 130 to allow a rope to be placed in thetube 134 without threading the rope through the tube 134. This isuseful, as the rope or wire being pulled is often fairly long, and theslot 142 eliminates the need to thread the pulling rope through theadapter 98 before threading the rope through the conduit, making iteasier to use the wire puller 10. A space 150 may be formed between thetube 134 and collar 138, and the adapter 98 may be used by placing thetube 134 inside of a conduit until the end of the conduit occupies thespace 150 between the tube 134 and collar 138. A thumb screw 146 may beused to secure the adapter 98 to the conduit. The adapter 98 istypically bolted to the adapter bracket 94 (FIG. 1-4), and as such mayinclude a hole 136, threaded hole, threaded shaft, etc. to facilitateattachment to the adapter bracket 94. A ledge 154 may be formed on theadapter 98 to aid in securing the adapter 98 to an adapter bracket 94.

As will be shown in subsequent figures, the tube 134 may be removablefrom the body 130 to allow different sizes of tubes to be attached tothe body 130, or to allow the body 130 to be attached to fittings orthreaded conduit. The inside of collar 138 may be threaded to allow thebody 130 (without the tube 134) to be threaded onto a threaded fittingor conduit to brace the adapter 98 and wire puller 10 for a wire pull.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a side view of the adapter 98 according to thepresent invention is shown. The adapter 98 is attached to the adapterbracket 94, and typically includes a body 130 and a section of tube 134as has been discussed. The body 130 is typically attached to the adapterbracket 94 by a nut 158 and bolt 162 (or threaded rod), or may be keyedor otherwise attached to the adapter bracket 94. The tube 134 is sizedto fit inside of standard sizes of conduit. Thus, a set of adapters 98may be made with different sizes of tubes 134, which fit inside ofdifferent sizes of conduit, such as 1 inch through 8 inch conduits, etc.Alternatively, the tube 134 may be removable from the body 130 and anumber of differently sized tubes 134 may be alternatively attached tothe body 130 as is desired. It is advantageous, though not necessary,that the adapter 98 is easily attached to and removed from the adapterbracket 94 to allow an operator to easily change the adapter 98, or toallow the adapter 98 to be removed for easier attachment to a conduit.

Sliding the tube 134 inside of a conduit will help in securing theadapter 98 to the conduit, and will especially aid in preventing lateralmovement away from the conduit or pivoting away from the axis of theconduit. Thus the adapter 98 adds to the overall strength and stabilityof the wire puller 10. The shoulder 154 may be used to engage theadapter bracket 94 to maintain a desired alignment between the wirepuller 10 and the adapter 98.

As rope 122 is typically used to pull wire, the adapter 98 is typicallydesigned such that a rope 122 will pass through the adapter 98(typically requiring a hole in the body 130 in alignment with the tube134) and operatively engage the wire puller 10. The adapter 98 has theslot 142 formed therein to allow the rope to be located in the bore ofthe tube 134 without requiring the rope to be threaded through the tube134.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another perspective view of the adapter 98 isshown. The adapter 98 is attached to the wire puller 10 and functions aspreviously described. The adapter 98 includes a body 130 which isattached to the wire puller 10 and tube 134 which is inserted into aconduit. The tube 134 is removably attached to the body 130. The tube134 has a pair of flanges 166, which are attached to the sides of thebody 130 by bolts 170. The tube 134 may be removed from the body 130 byremoving bolts 170 and sliding the tube 134 downwardly from the body130. Removal of the tube 134 facilitates insertion of the tube 134 intoa conduit where there is insufficient space for inserting the tube 134while it is attached to the body. The tube 134 may also be removed fromthe body 130 to change the tube size for use with different sizes ofconduit. The adapter 98 may include a collar 138, a mounting hole 136, aledge 154, a thumb screw 146, if desired.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show top and bottom perspective views of the body 130of the adapter 98. The base 174 of the body 130 includes an opening 178through which a rope and cable passes when in use. The opening 178 isformed with a pair of recesses 182 (one on either side, only one isvisible in either view) which receive the flanges 166. The sides 186 ofthe body 130 are formed with holes 190 which are used to fasten the tube134 to the body 130.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show perspective views of the tube 134. The tube 134of FIG. 11 is smaller than that of FIG. 10 and is for use with a smallersize of conduit. The tube 134 is attached to a C-shaped plate 194 whichhas an outer diameter which engages the body 130 and an inner diameterapproximately the same as the bore of the tube 134. A slot 142 is formedin the tube 134 and plate 194 to allow the tube 134 to be placed over arope which is already inserted into a conduit. The plate 194 has flanges166 protruding therefrom. The flanges 166 have holes 198 formedtherethrough. The holes 198 line up with holes 190 in the body 130 whenthe tube 134 is properly inserted into the body, and bolts 170 areplaced therethrough to fasten the tube 134 to the body.

The conduit adapter shown in FIGS. 7-11 provides removable tubes 134which may be changed to provide different sizes of tubes to accommodatedifferent sizes of conduits, and which may be removed to facilitate usewhere limited space is available. Where an electrical box or otherobstruction restricts the room around a conduit, the tube 134 may beinserted into the conduit, the body 130 fastened to the tube 134, andthe wire puller 10 fastened to the body 130 of the adapter 98.

There is thus disclosed an improved wire puller. It will be appreciatedthat numerous changes may be made to the present invention withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

1. A wire puller comprising: a base; a first arm extending along alength and having a first end and a second end, the first end beingpivotably connected to the base at a first pivot; a capstan extendingfrom the first arm in a direction substantially perpendicular to thelength, the capstan being configured to pull a rope or a wire contactingthe capstan as the capstan rotates; a motor operatively coupled to thecapstan and configured to rotate the capstan; a second arm having afirst end and a second end, the first end being pivotably connected tothe second end of the first arm at a second pivot; and a conduit adapterat the second end, the conduit adapter comprising a body and a tuberemovably connected to the body, wherein a slot is formed in the bodyand in the tube, the slot being configured to allow passage of the ropeor the wire into the body and into the tube without threading the ropeor the wire through the body or through the tube, wherein the first armfurther comprises a notch formed in the first arm between the capstanand the second end of the first arm, and wherein the rope or the wirepasses through the notch unobstructed by the first arm when the wirepuller is configured for an overhead wire pull.
 2. The wire puller ofclaim 1, wherein at least a portion of the capstan is knurled.
 3. Thewire puller of claim 1, wherein the first arm comprises an arm pivot toallow selective bending of the first arm at the arm pivot.
 4. The wirepuller of claim 1, wherein the second arm comprises telescoping armsections configured to vary the length of the second arm.
 5. The wirepuller of claim 4, wherein the second arm may be selectively locked at adesired length.
 6. The wire puller of claim 1, wherein the basecomprises at least one plate having a plurality of holes arrangedradially about the first pivot, and wherein the first arm has acorresponding hole to allow a pin to be placed therethrough to lock thefirst arm at a desired angle relative to the base.
 7. The wire puller ofclaim 1, wherein the second arm may be selectively locked at a desiredangle relative to the first arm.
 8. The wire puller of claim 7, whereinthe second end of the first arm comprises at least one plate having aplurality of holes arranged radially about the second pivot and whereinthe second arm has a corresponding hole to thereby allow a pin to beplaced therethrough to lock the second arm at a desired angle relativeto the first arm.
 9. The wire puller of claim 1, wherein the conduitadapter is connected to the second end of the second arm.
 10. The wirepuller of claim 9, further comprising an adapter bracket, and wherein:the second end of the second arm comprises a third pivot point; and theconduit adapter is removably connected to the adapter bracket, andwherein the adapter bracket is pivotably mounted to the second arm atthe third pivot point.
 11. The wire puller of claim 10, wherein theadapter bracket comprises at least one plate pivotably mounted at thethird pivot point, the at least one plate having a plurality of holesarranged radially about the third pivot point such that the adapterbracket may be selectively locked at a desired angle relative to thesecond arm.
 12. The wire puller of claim 1, wherein the conduit adapteris removably connected to the second end of the second arm.
 13. The wirepuller of claim 12, wherein the tube comprises a bore and the conduitadapter is configured to: be removed from the second arm; rotated withrespect to a center point of the bore; and reconnected to the wirepuller to selectively configure the wire puller for overhead andunderground wire pulls.
 14. The wire puller of claim 1, wherein the tubeis configured for placement inside of a conduit.
 15. The wire puller ofclaim 1, further comprising a first pulley disposed at the second pivot,and a second pulley disposed at the second end of the second arm. 16.The wire puller of claim 15, wherein the wire puller is configured topull a rope without requiring threading of the rope through any of theconduit adapter, the first pulley, the second pulley, and the capstan.17. The wire puller of claim 1, further comprising a spring disposedadjacent the first pivot so as to partially support the weight of thefirst arm and second arm.
 18. A wire puller comprising: a base; a firstarm extending along a length and having a first end and a second end,the first end being connected to the base at a first pivot; a capstanextending from the first arm in a direction substantially perpendicularto the length, the capstan being configured to pull a rope or wirewrapped around the capstan as the capstan rotates, wherein at least aportion of the capstan is knurled; a motor configured to rotate thecapstan; a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first endbeing pivotably connected to the second end of the first arm at a secondpivot, wherein the second arm comprises a plurality of telescopingportions for varying the length of the second arm. a conduit adapter atthe second end, the conduit adapter comprising a body and a tuberemovably connected to the body, wherein a slot is formed in the bodyand in the tube, the slot being configured to allow passage of the ropeor the wire into the body and into the tube without threading the ropeor the wire through the body or through the tube; and a notch formed inthe first arm between the capstan and the second end of the first arm,wherein the notch is configured for passage of the rope or the wirethrough the notch unobstructed by the first arm when the wire puller isconfigured for an overhead wire pull.
 19. The wire puller of claim 18,further comprising a first pulley disposed at the second pivot, and asecond pulley disposed at the second end of the second arm.
 20. The wirepuller of claim 19, wherein the conduit adapter is rotatably connectedto the second arm at the second end of the second arm at a third pivot.21. The wire puller of claim 20, wherein the third pivot is a rotationalaxis of the second pulley.
 22. A wire puller comprising: a base; a firstarm extending along a length and having a first end and a second end,the first end being connected to the base at a first pivot; a capstanextending from the first arm in a direction substantially perpendicularto the length, the capstan being configured to pull a rope or wirewrapped around the capstan as the capstan rotates, wherein at least aportion of the capstan is knurled; a motor configured to rotate thecapstan; a second arm having a first end and a second end, the first endof the second arm being pivotably connected to the second end of thefirst arm at a second pivot, wherein the second arm comprises aplurality of telescoping portions for varying the length of the secondarm. a conduit adapter rotatably connected to the second arm at thesecond end of the second arm at a third pivot, the conduit adaptercomprising a body and a tube removably connected to the body, wherein aslot is formed in the body and in the tube, the slot being configured toallow passage of the rope or the wire into the body and into the tubewithout threading the rope or the wire through the body or through thetube; a notch formed in the first arm between the capstan and the secondend of the first arm, wherein the notch is configured for passage of therope or the wire through the notch unobstructed by the first arm whenthe wire puller is configured for an overhead wire pull; a first pulleydisposed at the second pivot; and a second pulley disposed at the secondend of the second arm, wherein a rotational axis of the second pulley isthe third pivot.